SALEM -Area residents will have the opportunity to help out struggling families this Christmas season while enjoying a gospel concert.

Gospel singing group The Keelings, of Hadley, Pa., will perform its Christmas with The Keelings concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 at Salem First Friends Church, 1028 Jennings Ave. (330-332-0001).

Admission tickets are free with two non-perishable food items. The food drive will benefit the church's food pantry.

Although all 600 tickets reserved for the event have been given away, people can still attend the event and will be seated as seats become available.

The concert is one stop of three the group is making on this year's tour, with other concerts including Dec. 6 at the Harvest Community Church in Kittanning, Pa. (724-548-5643), and Dec. 18 at the New Beginnings Church of God in Meadville, Pa. (814-724-5074). Interested individuals may contact the appropriate listed phone number to inquire about tickets.

Now in their 16th year of gospel music, The Keelings have become known as one of western Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio's premier Southern Gospel singing families.

And Salem has been a big part of their ministry, according to singer Randy Keeling.

"Salem has been a great fan base and a tremendous supporter of our ministry," he said. "We try to cover communities close to us in which we can touch a lot of lives away from our concerts."

With the food drives, the Christmas concerts provide a way to reach out, Keeling added.

"God has been really good to our family and this is a little bit of a way for us to give back," he said. "And not only for us ourselves, but to also encourage other people attending to give and do something for somebody else."

Last year The Keelings were awarded the Keystone Award, which is given annually by the PA Southern Gospel Music Association (PSGMA) to an individual, duo or group who has done something extraordinary during the past year to uplift Jesus Christ in the field of Southern Gospel Music.

For information contact Keeling at 724-253-3339 or visit www.thekeelings.org.